OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The fight to stop Richard Glossip's execution isn't over despite being denied clemency again.
A group of his supporters gathered at the capitol Thursday to discuss the case. This comes after, the pardon and parole board was split on clemency, with two members voting no, another two voting yes, and one member abstaining due to a conflict of interest. The tie means Glossip's clemency was denied.
Since then, Glossip's attorneys filed a stay of execution with the supreme court,and this week he's filed to have the clemency hearing voided due to not having five impartial members of the board voting.
Thursday morning at the capitol, representatives and faith leaders took time once again to call for the stop of the execution of death row inmate Richard Glossip, who's set to be killed in just two weeks.
It comes on National Day of Prayer. Glossip supporters are calling on people across the nation to pray for the end of the death penalty in the United States.
“This case is no longer about justice. It's about power, pride, and politics that’s what it’s become,” said Rep. Kevin McDugle of Broken Arrow.
During a news conference to discuss Glossip's case, there were calls for Governor Kevin Stitt to quote “use his authority for good” and delay the execution. But that’s not all Glossip's supporters were calling for.
“We also call upon the legislature to place a moratorium on the death penalty," said Minister Demetrius Minor. "I ask you today how many more Richard Glossip's have to get our attention for us to finally realize that this system is ineffective.”
Glossip is on death row for the conviction in a 1997 murder of motel owner Barry Van Treese. A man by the name of Justin Sneed claims Glossip paid him to kill Van Treese.
- Previous coverage >>> Richard Glossip asks Supreme Court for stay of execution
Glossip has been given two trials, two clemency hearings, many stays of execution, and two independent reviews which found serious problems in the investigation and prosecution of his case, and he's been on death row for more than 20 years.
Last week, Glossip made what may be his final plea for clemency ahead of his tenth scheduled execution.
“I want the Van Treese family to know how terrible I feel for what they have gone through. What your family has gone through no family should ever have to endure. I must say again that I did not know about Justin Sneed's plan to commit any crime against Barry Van Treese, and I would've never thought of paying anybody to commit a crime," Glossip said at the clemency hearing on April 26th. "I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had people stick their necks out because they believe this is the right thing to do."
He has maintained his innocence from the start.
When Sister Helen Prejean spoke at the Thursday meeting, she shed light on Glossip’s character.
“He’s totally sincere. I mean what I know about his wrap sheet is the guy only got one time he broke the law for a traffic ticket,” she said.
Broken Arrow Representative Kevin McDugle says the state has withheld evidence in this case, not accepted Justin Sneed's recantment letter, called Sneed the actual murderer, and discussed how the state helped him lie.
Most of all what each person spoke to is the governor's comments on the case just last week.
“I've stayed his execution once or twice already. We wanted to let the court system play out. Unless the courts act or there's new evidence brought before the courts, we are going to follow the law,” Stitt said in his weekly news briefing Friday, April 28th.
“The constitutional legal process will not be complete until the Supreme Court rules. Our countries legal system is designed to make the Supreme Court, and not the court of criminal appeals, the final decision maker on federal constitutional issues which are present in Glossip's case. Following the law simply means following the U.S. Supreme Court and allowing them to hear this case,” Rep. McDugle said.
Following the meeting inside the capitol groups could be heard chanting “save Richard Glossip."
Rep. McDugle says a justice rally will be held outside the capital next Tuesday, May 9th.
For now, Glossip is still scheduled to be executed on May 18, which is just two weeks away.
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